titus010782
BANNED
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
- Messages
- 206
I got my M43 a few weeks ago and have found the time, step by step, to put it through an initial usability test.
(No photos this time, I couldn't be asked)
Received the package. Packaging had been pillaged by UK customs. They had it for 2 weeks, so plenty of time to invent new ways of trying to damage the contents.
I could see that the individually wrapped knives had been ripped out of their Aunty Yangdu meticulous style packaging and then hastily re-wrapped by non-chalant postal workers :jerkit: prior to dispatch.
The 20" Sirupati I got on a DOTD had a nasty dent in the wooden handle and a nick on the blade spine. Both polished out well. It also looks like they tried (and failed) to bend it. It had some pry marks near the front 3" of the blade.
All marks polished out and I sharpened it till it shaved my leg hairs.
The wood used (satisal right?) has a really high grain. Beautiful when polished down a little.
A really nice knife. Light weight and comfortable with an easy forward balance.
I have only chopped through a 2"x4" bit of pine, but as expected, it went through like candle wax and didnt damage the blade. Stabbed the point in and tried to break the tip, but all that happened was I destroyed the wood.
This is as far as I am going to take the Sirupati as it is a gift and I will send it next week. I have made a functional sheath for it (check cantina) and added some of my nervous boredom in the form of some leather carving.
Now for the BIG M!
Pulled it out it's slightly loose sheath and looked over the workmanship.
Straight out the sheath, it was sharp. Sharp enough for any regular task that is.
Buffalo horn handle, very nice with some growth imperfections in the horn that made it look really good. Bolster and buttcap whitemetal and tight.
One can clearly see these khukuri are 100% hand made. They have the blemishes that only human error (or art, as I see it) can produce.
The blade has a slightly concave forge with a convex edge. If I run my finger down the sides I can feel the light, wide hammer marks. That always feels good to me. I know that an artisan has put his hand to it instead of a machine with a grinding wheel just taking metal away. The artisan moulds the steel.
I stopped daydreaming and took the M43 outside and got to work on the
2"x4".
After defeating that bit of pine in a one sided battle. I looked around for something bigger.
An old oak log (used as a bench) caught my eye.
Went to work on the end bits. When struck perpendicular, the smooth handle of the M43 does not slip in my hand. If I am slightly off the mark though, it does tend to lean over and lie down.
After a glancing blow, the blade sings like a tuning fork (weird) like its telling me not to swing like an idiot and concentrate on the task.
After chopping a nice 1" chunk out of the log. I checked the blade. not a scratch anywhere, and I was using the sweet spot and the tip.
Of course, prying the oak was the same as the pine. Easily done.
Wiped off the blade and got too sharpening it.
On careful examination, one can see the differential hardening. the steel looks like a slightly different color on the hard edge
The hard area extended from about 2 1/2" behind the tip (as it starts to curve) till about 3" in front of the cho.
This area I got to a razor edge using 240, 400, 600grit water paper and then metal polishing compound on leather. No really. I dont have a belt sander yet, so it took me about 3 hours. I also believe only in the convex edge geometry, even my little Benchmade Snody knife had the factory grind taken off right out the box and an even convex put on it.
The 5160 the Kami use is tough steel, especially around the hardened area. Will do a hardness test sometime in the future.
The front and the back ends of the blade still got sharp enough to shave leg hairs.
Went back out, destroyed another piece of the 2"x4" and checked the edge. It could still shave my arm hairs. After drawing it over my leather belt (have dremel compound impregnated into my homemade belt, it was popping hairs again.
The compound does tend to leave some brown stains on my jeans, I am reminded of this by my better half every laundry day. But, I protest,"My dear. How will I sharpen my knife if I am outside?"
She responds by asking me why I am always sharpening my knife.
I dont know. Thats just what guys like us do.
Right now the M43 is resting in its sheath with a light coat of oil.
As my first khukuri, I am impressed with it.
I do not feel the NEED for another knife, but I feel an itch everytime I look at those Tarwar swords! I really do want one, alot. :thumbup:
(No photos this time, I couldn't be asked)
Received the package. Packaging had been pillaged by UK customs. They had it for 2 weeks, so plenty of time to invent new ways of trying to damage the contents.
I could see that the individually wrapped knives had been ripped out of their Aunty Yangdu meticulous style packaging and then hastily re-wrapped by non-chalant postal workers :jerkit: prior to dispatch.
The 20" Sirupati I got on a DOTD had a nasty dent in the wooden handle and a nick on the blade spine. Both polished out well. It also looks like they tried (and failed) to bend it. It had some pry marks near the front 3" of the blade.
All marks polished out and I sharpened it till it shaved my leg hairs.
The wood used (satisal right?) has a really high grain. Beautiful when polished down a little.
A really nice knife. Light weight and comfortable with an easy forward balance.
I have only chopped through a 2"x4" bit of pine, but as expected, it went through like candle wax and didnt damage the blade. Stabbed the point in and tried to break the tip, but all that happened was I destroyed the wood.
This is as far as I am going to take the Sirupati as it is a gift and I will send it next week. I have made a functional sheath for it (check cantina) and added some of my nervous boredom in the form of some leather carving.
Now for the BIG M!
Pulled it out it's slightly loose sheath and looked over the workmanship.
Straight out the sheath, it was sharp. Sharp enough for any regular task that is.
Buffalo horn handle, very nice with some growth imperfections in the horn that made it look really good. Bolster and buttcap whitemetal and tight.
One can clearly see these khukuri are 100% hand made. They have the blemishes that only human error (or art, as I see it) can produce.
The blade has a slightly concave forge with a convex edge. If I run my finger down the sides I can feel the light, wide hammer marks. That always feels good to me. I know that an artisan has put his hand to it instead of a machine with a grinding wheel just taking metal away. The artisan moulds the steel.
I stopped daydreaming and took the M43 outside and got to work on the
2"x4".
After defeating that bit of pine in a one sided battle. I looked around for something bigger.
An old oak log (used as a bench) caught my eye.
Went to work on the end bits. When struck perpendicular, the smooth handle of the M43 does not slip in my hand. If I am slightly off the mark though, it does tend to lean over and lie down.
After a glancing blow, the blade sings like a tuning fork (weird) like its telling me not to swing like an idiot and concentrate on the task.
After chopping a nice 1" chunk out of the log. I checked the blade. not a scratch anywhere, and I was using the sweet spot and the tip.
Of course, prying the oak was the same as the pine. Easily done.
Wiped off the blade and got too sharpening it.
On careful examination, one can see the differential hardening. the steel looks like a slightly different color on the hard edge
The hard area extended from about 2 1/2" behind the tip (as it starts to curve) till about 3" in front of the cho.
This area I got to a razor edge using 240, 400, 600grit water paper and then metal polishing compound on leather. No really. I dont have a belt sander yet, so it took me about 3 hours. I also believe only in the convex edge geometry, even my little Benchmade Snody knife had the factory grind taken off right out the box and an even convex put on it.
The 5160 the Kami use is tough steel, especially around the hardened area. Will do a hardness test sometime in the future.
The front and the back ends of the blade still got sharp enough to shave leg hairs.
Went back out, destroyed another piece of the 2"x4" and checked the edge. It could still shave my arm hairs. After drawing it over my leather belt (have dremel compound impregnated into my homemade belt, it was popping hairs again.
The compound does tend to leave some brown stains on my jeans, I am reminded of this by my better half every laundry day. But, I protest,"My dear. How will I sharpen my knife if I am outside?"
She responds by asking me why I am always sharpening my knife.
I dont know. Thats just what guys like us do.
Right now the M43 is resting in its sheath with a light coat of oil.
As my first khukuri, I am impressed with it.
I do not feel the NEED for another knife, but I feel an itch everytime I look at those Tarwar swords! I really do want one, alot. :thumbup:
